What term describes an electronic circuit that converts DC into AC at predetermined frequencies and amplitudes?

What term describes an electronic circuit that converts DC into AC at predetermined frequencies and amplitudes?

• A. Regenerative Feedback Path
• B. Oscillator
• C. Transformer
• D. Rectifier

Answer: (B)

An oscillator is a circuit that turns DC power into a time-varying AC signal at a chosen frequency. It does this by using feedback to reinforce a signal in a loop, with the frequency set by the components in the feedback path (such as an LC tank, crystal, or RC network). The DC supply biases the active device, and the positive feedback sustains oscillations, producing a stable waveform whose amplitude is determined by design and device limits. Why the other terms don’t fit: a regenerative feedback path is a mechanism inside an oscillator that helps sustain the signal but isn’t the name of the circuit itself; a transformer simply transfers energy between circuits and doesn’t generate DC-to-AC signals on its own; a rectifier converts AC to DC, not DC to AC.

An oscillator is a circuit that turns DC power into a time-varying AC signal at a chosen frequency. It does this by using feedback to reinforce a signal in a loop, with the frequency set by the components in the feedback path (such as an LC tank, crystal, or RC network). The DC supply biases the active device, and the positive feedback sustains oscillations, producing a stable waveform whose amplitude is determined by design and device limits.

Why the other terms don’t fit: a regenerative feedback path is a mechanism inside an oscillator that helps sustain the signal but isn’t the name of the circuit itself; a transformer simply transfers energy between circuits and doesn’t generate DC-to-AC signals on its own; a rectifier converts AC to DC, not DC to AC.